[ LETTER ]

What Is the NRA Afraid Of?

Published: Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 2:07 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 2:07 a.m.

Contrary to what is being passed off as fact by certain news channels, President Barack Obama has actually made fewer executive orders than any other president. Listening to credible news sources and fact-checking articles that spew such statistics before repeating them will help to stop passing on misinformation.

As for the gun control measures that have been proposed, President Obama clearly states that the problem with owning guns is not with ordinary, mentally healthy citizens, and he is not trying to take away the right to own reasonable guns for self defense. The problem is assault-type weapons. I can't understand why anyone, other than the military and law enforcement officers, needs that type of weapon. Even Ronald Reagan stated that guns like AK-47s are not needed for home defense.

As a retired elementary teacher, I can't imagine the horror of what happened at Sandy Hook. The president is doing what he should be doing: trying to prevent more mass killings. As he said, it's not going to stop them all, but we have to at least try. Anyone who doesn't agree with that agenda needs to do some soul searching. The idea of arming teachers is absurd and brings up all kinds of issues.

The chatter and false emails being sent out recently by the heads of the NRA smacks of an intentional effort to incite paranoia. Proclaiming that the president is a tyrant has no basis in fact. Furthermore, using his children in their recent ad is unconscionable.

I would ask the reasonable members of the NRA, of whom there are many, to demand that the heads of that organization stop the unscrupulous tactics. Polls show that most members agree with background checks and other sensible gun-control measures that the president is proposing. What is the NRA really afraid of?

<p>Contrary to what is being passed off as fact by certain news channels, President Barack Obama has actually made fewer executive orders than any other president. Listening to credible news sources and fact-checking articles that spew such statistics before repeating them will help to stop passing on misinformation.</p><p>As for the gun control measures that have been proposed, President Obama clearly states that the problem with owning guns is not with ordinary, mentally healthy citizens, and he is not trying to take away the right to own reasonable guns for self defense. The problem is assault-type weapons. I can't understand why anyone, other than the military and law enforcement officers, needs that type of weapon. Even Ronald Reagan stated that guns like AK-47s are not needed for home defense.</p><p>As a retired elementary teacher, I can't imagine the horror of what happened at Sandy Hook. The president is doing what he should be doing: trying to prevent more mass killings. As he said, it's not going to stop them all, but we have to at least try. Anyone who doesn't agree with that agenda needs to do some soul searching. The idea of arming teachers is absurd and brings up all kinds of issues.</p><p>The chatter and false emails being sent out recently by the heads of the NRA smacks of an intentional effort to incite paranoia. Proclaiming that the president is a tyrant has no basis in fact. Furthermore, using his children in their recent ad is unconscionable.</p><p>I would ask the reasonable members of the NRA, of whom there are many, to demand that the heads of that organization stop the unscrupulous tactics. Polls show that most members agree with background checks and other sensible gun-control measures that the president is proposing. What is the NRA really afraid of? </p><p>BARBARA MOORE CANNING</p><p>Lakeland</p>